The LED SAE J583 Fog Pod & Fog Light Review

Diode Dynamics SS3 Fogs

Diode Dynamics has 4 different SAE fogs offered on the SS3 platform, and with a simple lens swap that number grows to an impressive 6 SAE fog options. The SS3s also have 3 other optic patterns available including SAE driving (aux high beam), spot and flood. These are available as pods, or in a Toyota specific fog mount for 2012+ Tacomas and others.



The lights are available in a 14.5w Sport model, and a 36w Pro model, with color options of 6000k white or 3000k selective yellow on both.

Total Internal Reflector optics (TIR)
A unique feature of the SS3s is their TIR optics. The optic design increases efficiency by ensuring all light leaving the lamp has been reflected off of a control surface, providing less wasted light and increased focus leading to higher intensity output. Larger optics offer more control giving higher performance output, the SS3s have the largest optics of all the pod style fogs I have tested. It appears the optic was maximized for the pod body extending all the way out to the very edges of the pod such that the face securing hardware is accessed from the rear due to lack of space, which also provides a nicer look. The optics are further optimized for efficiency by incorporating the lens into the optic itself, so that the light does not have another medium to pass through as additional lenses reduce output efficiency. You can read an engineering white paper power point on aux lighting and their TIR optics here and see a youtube explanation here.

Selective yellow optimization
Unlike other LED fog pod manufactures that apply an amber/yellow lens over their existing white LED fog to to hit the chromaticity requirement for selective yellow, Diode Dynamics has optimized the selective yellow lights by using a warmer 4000k LED. Colored lenses introduce filtration losses to hit their target color. The amount of the filtration loss is relative to the how much correction (or delta from the source color temp) is being applied to the light source. Getting a high color temp light down to 3000k will require more filtration (light removal) than a lower color temp light, creating higher losses in output. By moving the LED light source down to 4000k for the selective yellow lights, the lenses only need to shift the color temp from 4000k to 3000k, a 1000k delta instead of 6000k to 3000k which is a 3000k delta. This reduces the filtration losses by allowing more light to pass though, making the lamp more efficient which results in higher output for the selective yellow lights.

4000k!
The SS3 platform has modular user swappable optics, this means you can use the 4000k backed selective yellow lights and change the optic to the white lens, giving you 4000k output. The resulting 4000k color is phenomenal and bests Bajas 5000k white light color temp. Clear lenses available for the 4000k swap here.

The SS3s have a unique pod body that is light weight and compact with extruded cooling pins vs the traditional pod fin design. The SS3 uses the industry standard Deutsch connectors.


The lenses are easily interchangeable by removing 4 T10 Torx screws, allowing one to change the optic, light color (for yellow) or replace a damage lens. There are also pins on the back of the lens so that it can only be installed one way, eliminating installation error. Yellow Pro shown with selective yellow fog and driving lenses.



Sport vs Pro emitters. The Sport uses smaller emitters which give it an advantage in focus. Like high efficiency halogen bulbs shrink the filament to increase focus, which increases intensity, the same holds true for LEDs in the TIR optics. The Pros emitters are higher power with greater output. According to Diode Dynamics, the Sport meets the modern SAE J583 F3 spec, whereas the Pros meet the SAE J583 F spec.


SS3 Sport

Diode Dynamic Specs
Fog Sport White 10,600 cd, 106 lux @ 10M, 1,520 lm actual, 2,262 lm raw, 6000K
Fog Sport Yellow 9,050 cd, 91 lux @ 10M, 1,300 lm actual, 1,930 lm raw, 3000K
14.5w for both

6000k vs 4000k vs 3000k


The Sport pattern (top) is just over 1 door panel in height while the Pro (bottom) is about 1.75-2 door panels.


Both the Sport and Pro have best in class pattern width at 80 degrees.
Sport in selective yellow.


4000k
Swapping the Sport selective yellow fog optic with a white fog optic results in great 4000k light color. The light spill above the horizon is better (less) on the Sports than the Pro.


Output
SS3 Sport 6000k white vs 3000k selective yellow


SS3 4000k yellow w/ white lens swap vs 3000k selective yellow


SS3 Sport 18' output tests:
Sport 6000k white - 377 lux at 5477k
Sport 4000k yellow w/ white lens: 376 lux at 3799k
Sport 3000k yellow - 352 lux at 2976k

Output testing was done after a 10+ minute warm up time when current draw on the lamp had stabilized.

The Sport intensity values are impressive. For comparison vs the previously highest intensity output Rigid S-series SAE fogs:
D-series SAE white - 395 lux
D-series SAE yellow - 318 lux
The Sports are SAE J583 F3 spec and have a shorter and much wider pattern than the D-series SAE fogs, which are an SAE J583 F spec. So looking at output intensity alone does not give the full picture. You can see that the D-series lights pay a much higher output tax on the yellow units than the SS3s.

Diode Dynamics specs 15% lower output intensity for the selective yellow Sports, but I was seeing much better that on the Sports with 7% lower output intensity. Knowing the number was supposed to be around 15% and seeing my results, I re-tested this many times, including reusing the same lamp and swapping the lens back and forth to white/yellow vs using the other paired lamp in the set. In my testing swapping the yellow lens for white to get the 4000k resulted in 3799k. With the lower base color temp the yellow lens would be a little more efficient, but not quiet enough to pickup the gains I was seeing.

Sport 4000k vs 3000k selective yellow filtering. You can see how the yellow filter removes the short wavelength light output.


SS3 Sport yellow chromaticity plot


I measured the Sports drawing 1.06A, or 14.6w. Almost exactly matching the spec'd 14.5w.


The SS3 Sport does not get very hot as at 14.5w it does not draw very much power. The yellow lens does heat up some, more so than white. I recorded the yellow lens temp of 111 degrees with an ambient temp ~65 degrees. (Vs the Pro white at 137 degrees, and Pro yellow at a blistering 170 degrees).


SS3 Pro

Diode Dynamics Specs
Fog Pro White: 11,900 cd, 119 lux @ 10M, 3,000 actual, lm 5,796 lm raw, 6000K
Fog Pro Yellow: 10,900 cd, 109 lux @ 10M, 2,700 lm actual, 5,220 lm raw, 3000K
36w

The specs are exceptionally impressive looking, far higher in output ratings than any other fogs I have tested or am aware of.

SS3 Pro 4000k white (yellow pod w/ white lens swap) vs 6000k white


SS3 Pro 4000k white (yellow pod w/ white lens swap) vs 3000k selective yellow


4000k (yellow light with white lens swap)


Compared to the Rigid 360s (top), the Diode Dynamics Pro fog (bottom), the Pro pattern is wider and higher intensity as measured at 18'. Note the 360s use a dual intensity pattern and there is a bit of pattern overlap between the top of the DD fogs and the bottom of the 360s in the picture below.


Output
Pro 3000k yellow vs 6000k white


Pro 3000k yellow vs 4000k (yellow w/ white lens swap)


The output numbers are insane.

SS3 Pro 18' output tests:
Pro 6000k white: 497 lux at 6356k
Pro 4000k yellow w/ white lens: 502 lux at 4085k
Pro 3000k yellow: 458 lux at 2988k

Output testing was done after a 10+ minute warm up time when current draw on the lamp had stabilized.

Compared to the previous highest intensity selective yellow light, Rigid's D-series SAE, the SS3 Pros are 44% higher in output intensity based on my measurements (318 vs 458 lux at 18') while having a substantially wider beam area. The SS3 Pro selective yellow is over 3x the output intensity of Baja's SAE selective yellow light. By my measurements the selective yellow takes an impressively low 9% loss over the white, which is about exactly on spec from Diode Dynamics numbers.

The white output intensity is even more impressive, coming in at the highest recorded output intensity I have to date on an SAE fog, with the previous being Rigid's D-series SAE at 395 lux.

Pro 4000k vs 3000k selective yellow filtering. You can see how the yellow filter removes the short wavelength light output.


SS3 Pro yellow chromaticity plot


The Pros drew 2.6A or 35.9w vs the 36w spec.


The SS3 Pro whites came in with a lens temp of 137 degrees. (Ambient ~65 degrees)


The SS3 Pro in yellow came in with a scorching 170 degree lens temp. (Ambient ~65 degrees)


The bodies of the Pro were much hotter, I saw temps just over 200 degrees on the body. I think it is safe to say these will have no problem with icing and snow build up in snowy conditions, which has long time been troublesome for LED fogs. Keep in mind, this was a bench test, with the vehicle in motion there will be more cooling airflow on the lights.

The Pros do not have as sharp of a cut off gradient as the sports and do have more spill light above the cut off.

SS3 Pro vs Rigid D-series


Rigid has much less spill light above the cut off. I have placed a divider next to the lights to avoid cross contamination of the pattern area and aimed the lights toward the corners of the garage, you can see there is some light contamination from the SS3 on portion of the right door. The Pro is spec'd to be within 20% of the legal uplight limit.

SS3 Pro vs Baja SAE w/ new 'fixed' optic


I should have retaken this shot, as there is some center contamination, but Baja's revised light has more light spill above the horizon on the door compared to the Pro. Baja's light is designed to be within 10% of the max compliance limit vs the SS3 Pro at 20% of the limit. (Note these are not exposure locked to compare to the previous image).

While not noticeable at 18', moving the SS3 light closer to the wall it is interesting you can see the TIR optics shape in the pattern.


This is a lot of lights and information to process. Because I'm sure people will want to see the Pro and Sport data side-by-side:

SS3 Sport 18' output tests:
Sport 6000k white - 377 lux at 5477k
Sport 4000k yellow w/ white lens: 376 lux at 3799k
Sport 3000k yellow - 352 lux at 2976k

SS3 Pro 18' output tests:
Pro 6000k white: 497 lux at 6356k
Pro 4000k yellow w/ white lens: 502 lux at 4085k
Pro 3000k yellow: 458 lux at 2988k

Compare the SS3 numbers to Rigid and Baja:



The new SS3 lights have impressive output intensity across the board whether it is Sport or Pro. The Sports have better focus but the Pros have the highest output I've ever seen in a fog paired with the largest beam pattern. The innovation, optimization and attention to detail that went into these lights really shows in their performance. It is also worth noting, the lights are "Engineered and manufactured in the USA".

Mounting
Testing the @Diode Dynamics SS3 fog mounts on a 2015 2nd Gen. Being designed for 3rd Gen these have similar mount spacing differences as the Rigid 360s did.

Tab insert mounts vs stock 2nd Gen fogs


Screw mounts vs stock 2nd Gen fogs


Since the screw mounts don’t both align, you need to use a single screw to mount, like 3rd Gen. Even though the stock 2nd Gen used 2 screws, 1 should hold fine.

The lower screw is not the right one, this results in the light not being level left to right.


The upper screw is the correct one. Not perfectly level due to Taco lean.


So for 12-15 Tacoma’s installing the SS3, be sure you only use the upper screw mount on the bracket for the SS3s. Using the lower screw location or attempting to use both will result in a non-level light pattern.

Assembling the SS3s in the vehicle mount kit was super simple. Aiming is also very easy if you mount them correctly and don't over tighten things.

The vehicle mounts have a square shaped plastic bracket that that surrounds the pods with 2 mount points that allow the light to pivot for aiming. Very simplistic and effective design, though it does seem like it would reduce some airflow for cooling efficiency.



The mounts have slotted mount points, allowing you to move the light forward or backward in the bracket. Too far forward and the light face will interfere with the vehicle bumper, possibly not allowing enough adjustment for correct aiming. Too far back and the light will be too deep in the mount, and the light body will interfere with the mount limiting aiming adjustment. I placed mine right in the middle.

Tips for aiming
When inserting the mounting bolts to connect the SS3 to the mount, don't make them overly crazy tight. I tightened mine 80-90% of what you would if you never wanted the lamp to move ever again. This allowed aiming with some force applied to the light bezel from outside the vehicle making the process very simple. Obviously you don't want it to be easily moveable, but you can make it tight enough it won't move on its own, but still will be moveable with sufficient force applied directly to the light.



SS3 with Tacoma fog mount installed.


Important to note that on Tacomas, only the upper screw mount should be used for the lamp to sit level. On 2nd Gen there are 2 screw mount points, but the lower one does not line up with the mount. Use only the upper one (just like 3rd Gen) and everything will line up.


There should be very slight gapping around the front of the light surround. If you pressed the light forward to make contact or sit flush, you would loose the ability to tilt the light to aim it correctly.


The SS3s were very easy to convert from SS3 pod to Tacoma fog by simply changing the front bezel and adding the fog out bracket with two bolts. They were also very easy to aim matching my existing fogs aiming in the process I described earlier. Overall the install was very simple and painless once the appropriate screw location was understood.

Comparing the SS3 Pro selective yellow to the Rigid D-series selective yellow in the 12-15 Rago wide angle mount.

D-series wide angle mount left vs SS3 Pro forward mount right


The combined output above is too wide to fit in a 1x iPhone 11 Pro camera optic.

Using the wide angle camera optic, the wide angle optic does not do as well in low light conditions. However, you can see the Rigid D-series in the wide angle Rago mount (for 2012-2015) have just a little more width in coverage to the left outside shoulder than the forward facing SS3s, but it is pretty comparable. Keep in mind the SS3s spec a best in class 80 degree beam width, the D-series are much narrower at 52 degrees, the D-series are being aided in width by the side angled Rago mount (only available for 12-15). While one should not rely on photos for intensity comparisons alone, you can see the Pro (right) has a slightly taller pattern and higher intensity. There is center pattern overlap, which favors the left side thats to the SS3's wider pattern projecting to the left. The Rigid D-series with a narrower pattern and aiming left does not return overlapping pattern light to the right, meaning only the left side gets the overlapping pattern thanks to the wider angle SS3 optic. To state that simpler, the SS3 has a best in class wider angle optic that will provide more overlapping intensity in front of the vehicle.



With headlights. Headlights are high powered exotic 85/80w +30 Osram Hyper H4s running on a standalone harness.


The SS3 pattern width is very impressive for a forward facing mount, the width comparison is closer matched than I expected. While slightly outdone in max width with the Rigid Rago mount for 12-15, the SS3 makes up for it with 44% higher output intensity by my measurements, and much higher operating temperature for better resistance to cold weather icing.

When I compared the Rigid D-series in the wide-angle Rago mount to the Rigid 360 series in the forward mount, I chose the D-series because they were higher intensity, wider shoulder coverage and higher operating temp. The new Diode Dynamics SS3 Pros are nearly comparable in shoulder coverage, 44% higher intensity and far higher operating temp for better icing resistance while offering a more stock looking OEM mounting solution.

 

^^^This kind of info is what makes TW so awesome. Thanks for all your hard work @crashnburn80!!

 

I got my SS3 Pros installed minutes before Crash posted his review/analysis.

I'm quite happy. I have them aimed a smidge too high and way too wide right now, but a drive through town didn't result in any flashing or angry looks.

The spread on these things is just insane

 

Great to see that the yellows don't give up much intensity. Great choice on the warmer LEDs for those! Crash have you also put together data for the driving and offroad lights?

 

Thank you for your extremely detailed report on all of these lighting options!

 

@crashnburn80 Thanks for this! I’ve been waiting to install until the clear lenses are available for purchase so I can get the 4000 color. Do you have any inside info on when DD may have them available?

 

Thanks for the continued research and comparisons of these lights. It's nice to see new competition in dot legal lighting products and that is good news for the consumers.

 

I do have the other optics, but it was so much info/options to cover in one post! I will cover the distance lighting options in the near future.

You can see my post on an 18” Diode Dynamics driving light bar here:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ctor-headlights.589465/page-109#post-22214095

Last I recall it was end of Jan. @Diode Dynamics could likely provide an updated timeline.

 

Alright Crash send me your PayPal. You have long since earned some compensation for the amount of work you have put in

 

@Diode Dynamics

Really like the new lights.

Any plans to make a 2 LED version? As in a slim version similar to Baja's S2?

 

a few posts or pages back they confirmed that it’s in the works. I’ll see if I can’t try to find it for you.

 

@Blackdawg

 

thank you sir. I shall await it's arrival for the DD. Might get some of the SS3s for the other rig though.

 

Just pulled the trigger on a pair of DD SS3 selective yellow pros and a pair of the DD SS3 selective yellow sports for my tacoma and my girlfriends 4Runner.

 

@crashnburn80 or @Diode Dynamics

Does the amber Stage Series light bar have the 4000k temperature emitter potential as the SS3 fogs?

The online spec sheet lists it as 2000k, are there plans to upgrade to 3000k Yellow like the SS3 fogs?

 

4000k = white light color
2000k = amber light color

 

Long term (1+ years) yes, short term no. We will be reviewing it as part of planned product line improvements in the future, but I really can't make any promises on timeframe since no work has commenced yet.

 

@Thirty8special

 

Can you also make the lightbars into 10" increments like most other companies do? Most aftermarket offroad bumpers are designed to fit a 20" or 30" bars.

 

Just received my SS3 Yellow SAE Fog with the 4runner mounting kit and promptly installed before the rain comes back. And aimed properly (maybe even too low, FYI!)
Funny thing though, the specs talk a lot about being SAE compliant and how important it is to label it as such (and is visible on the side of the regular non-mounting kit housings someone else bought and posted somewhere on here) but for some reason there is
No Such SAE label on my lights.
Maybe 4runners don't get the label. (please no snarky flames...I can already hear them coming!)
I doubt it would ever cause concern, but still.
Here is a shot of one person's lights. And another thread that starts talking about the location being on the left side and maybe taking alcohol to remove it.
Maybe @Diode Dynamics should have SAE injected into the optics mold? I know that costs a lot more though for a unique mold. Did I get the incorrect light? Nah, the beam pattern is certainly a fog beam pattern.